U.S. patent number 10,736,766 [Application Number 15/212,261] was granted by the patent office on 2020-08-11 for back brace device.
The grantee listed for this patent is Lori Booker. Invention is credited to Lori Booker.
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United States Patent |
10,736,766 |
Booker |
August 11, 2020 |
Back brace device
Abstract
The present invention provides a device that provides relief for
lower back pain and corrects bad posture. The back brace device
comprises a plurality of belts having a rear side, a front side,
and a first end removably securable to a second end. The rear side
of at least one of the belts has an inflatable bladder that is
controlled by an air pump. The device further comprises having a
heating element and a vibration mechanism that can be turned on or
off as desired by the user. The present invention is used by
placing the belt around the waist of the user and securing the
first and second ends to one another via one or more suitable
fasteners. The bladder is then inflated in order to provide support
to the back of the user.
Inventors: |
Booker; Lori (Essex, MD) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Booker; Lori |
Essex |
MD |
US |
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Family
ID: |
57774766 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/212,261 |
Filed: |
July 17, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20170014255 A1 |
Jan 19, 2017 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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62193758 |
Jul 17, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
5/028 (20130101); A61F 7/03 (20130101); A61H
23/00 (20130101); A61F 5/34 (20130101); A61H
11/00 (20130101); A61F 7/007 (20130101); A61H
9/0078 (20130101); A61H 2201/0207 (20130101); A61F
2007/0027 (20130101); A61H 2201/5038 (20130101); A61H
2201/1623 (20130101); A61F 2007/0078 (20130101); A61F
2007/0228 (20130101); A61H 2201/50 (20130101); A61H
2201/0192 (20130101); A61H 2201/5015 (20130101); A61H
2201/165 (20130101); A61H 2205/081 (20130101); A61H
2201/5071 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
5/02 (20060101); A61F 7/02 (20060101); A61F
5/34 (20060101); A61F 7/03 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rodriquez; Kari K
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Howard University School of Law
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS (IF ANY)
This application claims the priority date of Provisional
Application No. 62/193,758 filed on Jul. 17, 2015.
Claims
That which is claimed is:
1. A back brace device adapted to be worn on a human body,
comprising: an inner adjustable belt having a front side, a rear
side, a first distal end and a second distal end with a releasable
fastening system that connects the first distal end and the second
distal end together, the inner adjustable belt having a plurality
of air bladders positioned along a length of the rear side, an
outer belt that is placed over the inner belt having a plurality of
pumps connected to the bladders, the outer belt having a distal
outer belt first end, and a distal outer belt second end, wherein
the distal outer belt first end and the distal out belt second end
are adapted to be releasably fastened to each other, the inner
adjustable belt and the outer belt being adapted to collectively
form a loop configuration around a human body lumber and coccyx
region; said device having a heating element, a vibration
mechanism, a control circuit and a rechargeable power source,
wherein the control circuit is operably connected to the heating
element and the vibration mechanism; wherein the vibration
mechanism includes a first vibration element disposed to one side
of the air bladders and a second vibration element disposed to an
opposing side of the air bladders; wherein the control circuit
includes a microprocessor and a computer readable memory configured
to control at least three levels of variance of heat and vibration
from the heating element and vibration mechanism, respectively.
2. The back brace device according to claim 1, further comprising
pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of the air
bladders; wherein the pressure sensor is operably connected to the
control circuit.
3. The back brace device according to claim 2, further comprising
the pressure sensor being configured to activate the air pump to
pump air into the bladders when the measured air pressure is lower
than a pre-set air pressure.
4. The back brace device according to claim 1, further comprising
plurality of control buttons being operably connected to the
control circuit, wherein the control buttons includes a vibration
control button for controlling the vibration mechanism and a heat
control button to controlling the vibration mechanism; wherein the
control buttons are disposed on the outer belt adjacent to the one
of the first distal end outer belt or the second distal end outer
belt.
5. The back brace device according to claim 4, wherein the control
buttons includes an air pump control button to control the air
pumps.
6. The back brace device according to claim 1, further comprising
the power source including a battery, the device further including
a USB port connected to the control circuit and the power
source.
7. The back brace device according to claim 1, wherein the control
circuit is positioned along the outer belt.
8. The back brace device according to claim 7, wherein the power
source is positioned along the outer belt.
9. The back brace device according to claim 7, wherein the heating
element is disposed adjacent to the air bladders.
10. The back brace device according to claim 1, wherein the inner
adjustable belt and the outer belt are constructed of a nylon
material.
11. The back brace device according to claim 10, wherein the
fastening system includes a hook and loop material.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to back brace, and in particular to
one the helps correct back posture.
2. Description of Prior Art
Conventional back braces that are currently used to correct back
posture do not provide relief from lower back pain and pressure.
Some individual apply a heating pad or a cold compress to their
lower back in order to provide temporary relief. However, these
techniques are ineffective if the individual also desire to
simultaneously correct his or her back posture.
There is still room for improvement in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a back brace device that provides relief
for lower back pain and corrects bad posture providing the just
correct alignment.
The back brace device comprises a dual belt having a rear side, a
front side, and a first end that is securable to a second end. The
rear side of the inner belts has an inflatable bladders or tubes
that are filled by an air pump. The belt has a heating element and
a vibration mechanism that can be turned on or off as desired by
the user. The device can also be done in a single belt.
The current invention is more efficient, effective, accurate and
functional than the current art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Without restricting the full scope of this invention, the preferred
form of this invention is illustrated in the following
drawings:
FIG. 1 shows a top view of the belts;
FIG. 2 shows a front right view of the belts;
FIG. 3 shows a side view of the belts;
FIG. 4 shows a front view of the belts;
FIG. 5 shows a side view of the inner belt;
FIG. 6 shows the outer belt open and the inner belt closed;
FIG. 7 shows a top view of the outer belt open and the inner belt
closed;
FIG. 8 shows a front view of the outer belt open and the inner belt
closed;
FIGS. 9 and 10 show the outer belt open; and
FIG. 11 displays the components of the device; and
FIG. 12 display the device being used.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
There are a number of significant design features and improvements
incorporated within the invention.
The current invention is directed to back brace device 1 as shown
in FIGS. 1-10.
The back brace device 1 comprises an inner belt 10 and an outer
belt 15 having a front side, a left side, a right side and a rear
side. The belts, 10 and 15, each have two ends which attached to
each other using an attachment means 17 which in the preferred
embodiment are hook and loop fasteners. The device 1 and the belts
are adapted to form a loop configuration around a user's lumber and
coccyx region as shown in FIG. 12. The attachment means 17 will
allow the belts to be adjustable to fit the user. The dual belt
system allows for a better fit and more support for the user
however a single belt could be used with all the same elements.
The back brace device 1 further comprises one or more bladders 20
disposed along the length of the rear side of the inner belt 10.
Each bladder 20 is adapted to be inflated with air via three air
pump 30 which are located in the middle rear of the outer belt 15.
The bladders 20 are tube shaped in the preferred embodiment. Thus,
the inflated bladders 20 provide back support for the user 100. The
bladders 20 are connected to each other so that the air and
pressure is evenly distributed. The back brace device 1 further
comprises a pressure sensor 25 that is adapted to automatically
activate the air pumps 30 if the air pressure in the bladders falls
below a predetermined level which can be set by the user 100.
The inner belt 10 and the outer belt 15 are connected in the rear
of the belts as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The inner belt 10 wraps
around the user 100 and the outer belt 15 wraps around the inner
belt 10 adding additional support.
The belts further house a heating element 40 and a vibration
mechanism 50 to relieve back pain and stress. As shown in FIGS. 2
and 4, the device 1 will have control buttons on the front of the
outer belt 15. These buttons, heat control button 62 and vibration
control button 64, will control the heating element 40 and the
vibration mechanism 50 and in the preferred embodiment each have
three levels of variance between light heat, light vibration up to
heavy heat, heavy vibration. In alternative embodiments, there
could be a button to control the air pumps 30. These buttons are
connected to a control circuit 60.
The control circuit 60 and power source 70 is positioned along the
outer belt 15, wherein the control circuit 60 is operably connected
to the power source 70, heating element 40, air pump 30, pressure
sensor 25 and vibration mechanism 50. In the preferred embodiment
the power source is batteries. The control circuit 60 will a means
to turn on and off the heating element 40, air pump 30 and
vibration mechanism 50. The power source 70 can be a rechargeable
battery that is rechargeable through a USB port. A USB port can
also be connected to the control circuit 60. The control circuit 60
would consist of a microprocessor and electronic memory.
The belts are made of a strong, light weight material such as nylon
or nylon mesh designed to have a proper fit on a user's back.
Advantages
The current invention is a lower back brace that helps alleviate
stress and pressure on the back, significantly decreasing pain in
the lumbar region. The design features the following benefits that
cannot be replicated by other back braces; provides relief from
lower back pressure, enhances stability in the upper and lower
torso, rests flush against the lower back with pressurized air
tubes, relaxes the muscles with heat and vibrations for added
relief, and helps people stand and sit with ease
While the methods disclosed herein have been described and shown
with reference to particular steps performed in a particular order,
it is understood that these steps may be combined, sub-divided, or
reordered to form an equivalent method without departing from the
teachings of the embodiments. Accordingly, unless specifically
indicated herein, the order and grouping of the steps is not a
limitation of the embodiments. Furthermore, methods and mechanisms
of the embodiments will sometimes be described in singular form for
clarity. However, some embodiments may include multiple iterations
of a method or multiple instantiations of a mechanism unless noted
otherwise. For example, when a connection is disclosed in one
embodiment, the scope of the embodiment is intended to also cover
the use of multiple connections.
Certain features of the embodiments, which may have been, for
clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also
be provided in various combinations in a single embodiment.
Conversely, various features of the embodiments, which may have
been, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment,
may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.
Embodiments described in conjunction with specific examples are
presented by way of example, and not limitation. Moreover, it is
evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will
be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is to be understood
that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may
be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications
and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable
modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within
the scope of the invention.
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